Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Q: Why don’t we start an exclusive Art of living TV channel to spread the knowledge of the Art of living?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Why should it be restricted only to one channel? It should be on all channels (laughs). However if you want to start one, you have my encouragement. The channel should not just be meditation or music alone. It should be spiritual knowledge with knowledge on what’s happening in world.

One final thing – Whenever you have any worries, you can just post or courier them to me. Do something useful to everybody and if you do that, then everything else is taken care of.

Q: It is said in the Gita, do your duty and don’t expect for the result. How to live this knowledge in normal life?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Live naturally. All Art of Living points are from life’s experience. There is no effort in it. Do some meditation, yoga you will see how life has transformed effortlessly and automatically.

Q: Sometimes I get very angry. It is like something gets inside me. How can I get rid of this inner demon?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

I tell you, there is no demon inside. No! If anybody tells you, don’t listen to them. Just walk away. There is no demon inside you. Got it? You arepure light. You are born of light. You are light. All that you need to do is wake up, little more silence, little more meditation and observe the sensations.Start observing the sensations in the body, in the mind. Yes? And such an outburst of anger comes and then subsides. It will take little time so that itdoesn't arise at all. The more we are in the state of dispassion or centeredness, lesser is the anger. Behind the anger is a desire for perfection. Wanting perfection makes you angry. Want brings anger in us. So when you keep observing, the want dissolves. You loosen up from inside. You start blossoming from inside. You will see, you will get very few opportunities where you have to get upset. It is ok to get upset once in a while, doesn't matter.

Q: Guruji you said to be a perfectionist is cause of stress. Yet everything about you is so perfect. You are perfect, your actions are perfect, your words are perfect, your understanding of God is so perfect, this Ashram is perfect and so many other things. What is the difference between your perfect thinking or, mine or ours?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Just that you have to look yourself in the mirror. That’s it. You move from perfection to perfection. You move from one perfection to another higher perfection. That’s how you have to look at life. Otherwise you see this is not perfect , everything is imperfect, everything is hopeless. And we tend to get into negative framework. Isn’t it?

Q: There are so many problems in the world. Isn’t it better if we have the power to know them wherever we are so that we can do something to help?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Aren’t you seeing enough on television? Why do you want to know about all the problems? Whether you know or not, meditation and Satsang will bring the transformation. Knowing is not a big deal. Where you put your attention, you will get knowledge about it. Yet once you have the power you will not want to use it. A scholar does not carry all his books on his head all the time. He refers only when necessary. Same way the consciousness knows, when necessary it knows.Some karmas have to be experienced. The effects of some can be reduced through upayas (solutions).

Q: Guruji you are always around so many people, how do you balance your energies?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

They balance themselves! I do not do anything that is not in my nature. Just like the wind blows, it does not tire because that is it’s nature.

Q: What is significance of time when everything is happening in the present moment?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

(After a pause of a minute) It (the past minute) is past now. Present is ever present. Past and future are also present.This whole creation has no significance, nor does the time and nor does the space.

Q: How does one get rid of guilt and repentance?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

When you come here you have entered a new life. That old person has died – it is a new life, new human being. You want to carry the burden of that old stone with you still? In ancient days there was a tradition. When someone came to the Guru, their name was changed reminding them that they now have a fresh new life.

Q: Guruji, the youth is getting disappointed today because of chaos in society and corruption in politics. What is your message to youth?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

All the youth should stand up now and start moving ahead together. When you all work in group then there is no such task that can’t be accomplished.